Christmastime is upon us and unsurprisingly, it’s had me thinking a lot about my family and what’s most important to me at this time of year. I’ve shared my thoughts on it over at the Huffington Post. I consider myself to be among the luckier ones who find themselves in prison during the holidays because I […]

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is making a lot of headlines—this week I’ve even written about it over at Prison Legal News. It seems like nearly every story about prisoner abuse these days is coming out of Florida, and this should have us all worried. It means that an entire state’s corrections system is […]

We all know that the holidays aren’t a joyful time for everyone. For many, this time of year brings up feelings of intense sadness and loneliness. Nowhere is this truer than for those incarcerated and their loved ones. Last year was especially hard for me, as I’d lost my communication privileges over a trumped-up violation […]

Backhanded policies are setting Illinois on a path towards increased recidivism. An arcane law is being given new life in Illinois, and the results are coming at a serious social cost. A recent investigation has revealed that the state of Illinois has been ramping up efforts to sue inmates for “fees” related to their tenure […]

This week marks the opening of an exhibit in an Ohio gallery that will feature the artwork of prisoners from across the state. The exhibition, entitled “Inside Looking Out: Creative Works by Ohio Prison Inmates” will be on display at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery. While much of my focus as an activist and […]

A bizarre development out of New York has prisoners’ and human rights activists scratching their heads this week. It’s best summed up by The Nation’s headline for an article discussing the matter: “Rikers is Reforming Solitary Confinement—With More Solitary Confinement?” There’s little question as to Rikers infamy as a penal institution. Despite decreasing the number […]

This week New York Governor Cuomo revealed the intention to transform a notorious former women’s prison into a site providing resources and assistance to women in need. The announcement served not only as reminder of the symbolic representation such buildings hold, but of the power inherent of the physical structures themselves. Changes in the physical structures of prisons over time tend […]

Last month, thousands of prisoners were released after changes to federal drug penalties made by the US Sentencing Commisison. But for many, release came as a double-edged sword. Because while there is little doubt that their freedom has been a source of great celebration, they must also face the biggest question of all: what comes […]

Some incredible news has come out of the California ruling from the case of Shiloh Quine, a transgender woman serving a life sentence in the state. The lawsuit, launched on behalf of Quine against the state of California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) asserted that the Department’s failure to provide her with sex reassignment […]

A powerful new video has been produced by the Essie Justice Group, a San Francisco-based organization dedicated to supporting women with incarcerated loved ones. The #StandWithHer project highlights the disproportionate impact that mass incarceration (and mandatory minimums which feeds cyclically into incarceration rates) has on women. When we talk about the impact on the family […]